Judge bars U.S. from weakening rules for 'dolphin-safe' tuna

[Kadie]

Judge bars U.S. from weakening rules for 'dolphin-safe' tuna

LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 10, 2004


(08-10) 16:51 PDT SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --

In a victory for environmentalists, a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Bush administration cannot change the standards commercial fisheries must meet before the tuna they catch can carry the "dolphin-safe" label.

U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson found that Commerce Secretary Donald Evans not only failed to conduct the scientific research required to relax existing tuna-labeling laws, but engaged in "a pattern of delay and inattention" to build support for his position.

"The record is replete with evidence that the secretary was influenced by policy concerns unrelated to the best available scientific evidence," Henderson wrote in a strongly worded 51-page opinion. "This court has never, in its 24 years, reviewed a record of agency action that contained such a compelling portrait of political meddling."

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/08/10/financial1825EDT0111.DTL

[northstar]

1. Kudos to Judge Henderson

We need to celebrate every victory for the environment - and thank those that stand up for the environment because surely they are standing up for our human future as well!

[Kadie]

11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[northstar]

13. Thank you for the nice welcome!!!

It makes me :-)

Peace

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Sorry, Charlie!

[BootinUp]

4. LOL

Thanks for the laugh. :)

[theoceansnerves]

3. the courts

are seriously the only thing keeping bush from completely destroying this country.

[Robbien]

5. That is why the far right wingers are waging their war on

"activist judges".

[2Design]

6. Bush and Rethugs sure do hate these 'activists' judges don't they

anyone who make them do the right thing for the great good they are against.... they need judges that will do the party's bidding.

[Zorra]

7. Commerce Secretary Evans is an ex-CEO of a Texas Oil Company.

"This court has never, in its 24 years reviewed a record of agency action that contained such a compelling portrait of political meddling."

Looks like Bu$h appointee, ex-Texas oil company CEO Donald Evans got caught doing what all Bu$h appointees do - cheating for corporate interests against the public good:

A former businessman, Secretary Evans believes very strongly in the free-enterprise system. He sees it as one of the core values of America and his main mission as Commerce Secretary is creating an environment in which American businesses and workers can thrive in the global economy. He has an aggressive agenda to get the job done. At the top of the list is trade. In his first five months, he visited five countries to promote American exports and to open markets. In the months ahead he'll be working to strengthen U.S. trade and investment with Russia, and helping the President secure from the Congress trade promotion authority to negotiate new trade opening deals.

Secretary Evans was sworn into office on January 20, 2001. Born in Houston, Texas in 1946, Secretary Evans attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1969 and an MBA in 1973. While at UT, he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

In 1975, Secretary Evans moved to Midland, Texas from Houston and began roughnecking on an oil rig for Tom Brown Inc., a large independent energy company now based in Denver. Ten years later he took the company over as CEO and continued running it until becoming Commerce Secretary.

Secretary Evans has made significant contributions in local and national politics in the past 25 years having worked for Governor Bush's successful gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998, and serving as Chairman of the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/evans-bio.html

[Tellurian]

8. Thanks for the info Zorra..This is a good sign...

More Judges are condemning Bush policies as lawsuits arrive in court..
Great win for our side-

It is incumbent on us to speak for those who have no voice or standing to defend themselves, from the onslaught of corporate greed, in a court of law!

[KamaAina]

9. (click click squeak squeak click)

That's Delphine for "Hurray for Judge Henderson! Down with the Bushies!"

[Kool Kitty]

10. KamaAina,

Thanks for the translation and tell Flipper that he's welcome at DU anytime! (Cute message-I loved it.) Is there any creature that's safe from the poisonous grip of this administration?

[mitchtv]

12. yup, cockroaches are safe in this Administration

Behold the Whitehouse

[Kool Kitty]

15. Yeah, good point.

But I'll bet that cockroaches don't act half as sleazy as this bunch. And they probably wouldn't screw each other over for a dollar.

[OskiFan]

14. Thank God for federal courts

Well, there's proof that the Administration hasn't yet succeeded in making all three branches of govenrment Republican strangle-holds. Thank goodness that some in the judiciary retain some independence and clear thinking.

I say a quiet "halelujua" (sp?) whenever the courts smack down the Administration for completely trying to subvert the rules, evade checks and balances, and cheat to get what they want. Don't these people have any shame at all?

Gawd, we need a president who will play by the rules and follow the law.

Yes, yes, I know, you say that Bush is following a higher law. Well, that's the nature of the problem right there--end the theocracy before it is too late!

- Kim

[Judi Lynn]

16. It almosts stops your heart hearing these fools have been sniffing around

for a way to open the door to devastation of the dolphins. Who didn't know so long ago they are not creatures to be harmed?

Seeing this article was a real boost this morning. It's real heaven learning there's another honest judge out there who hasn't been bought.

Thanks to Kadie.


Thwarted momentarily, Don Evans. Thank God.

[Kadie]

17. Thanks to Judge Henderson

He had some really harsh words. It made my day yesterday when I first read this article.

:hi:

[volosong]

18. Bush Wants More Dolphins Killed So We Can Eat More Tainted Tuna

Bush doesn't know what is going one because he never is able to look up from kissing so many corporate asses.

Thank God for the US court Judge!

As you know, Bush's relaxation of mercury guidelines are expected to affect the health of an estimated 620,000 US children.

Our tuna supplies are so contaminated with mercury that the US Department of Health recommends only 3 small servings a week for children and pregnant women.

I think Kerry is acting too much like a milquetoast. He should ram this issue down Bush's throat:


How Mr, President can you justify the killing of more dolphins so American can ingest more tuna contaminated with mercury except as a favor to the special interests of commercial fishing?

[pinniped]

19. Great news!

Of course these assholes will keep coming back if they steal the wh again.